Desk accessory



J. T. LEWIS DESK ACCESSORY Aug. 28, 1934.

Filed May 23, 1933 Zmventor W TLewio U Qttomeg Patented Aug. 28, 1934 v imrrso STATES rArsnrjorr-lcs DESK ACCESSORY ,7 James T. Lewis, Washington, D. 0.. Application May 23, 1933, Serial No. 672,499 Claims. (01. 40-446) This invention relates to an article of manufacture designed for use on fiat top desks and in like situations and adapted to serve as a holder for a calendar pad or other matter which it is 5i desirable to have in constant view in an upright position; as a paper weight which may be conveniently moved about and placed on papers to be held; and, if desired, as a container for pins, paper clips, or the like. Incidental to the uses of the'device above referred to, itconveniently forms an effective advertising medium or medium for displaying advertising matter, thus adapting the article for free distribution where the advertising matter will pay for the cost of production and render the device more attractive than would otherwise be the case. I

In its essential characteristics, the device embodies a relatively heavy base portion having a rounded bottom, which base portion supports in 201 an upright position an arm provided with holding means for a calendar pad or the like, which arm is also adapted to carry advertising medium. The lower part of the base portion,.which is preferably cylindrical, is'weighted whereby the extending arm is held constantly in an upright position and the calendar, or other matter disposed thereon, remains in a readable position. Thus, the device is incapable of remaining knocked over and, when the arm is tilted, the heavy rounded base portion will swing the arm back into its original upright position.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,

wherein a preferred form of my invention has been selected for exemplification, and wherein like numerals refer to like parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an article of manufacture embodying the present improvements;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

: and

Figure 3 is a plan view of a sheet of suitable material, such as metal, showing the necessary cut-out portions, before being folded into the completed article shown in Fig. 1.

7 Referring more in detail to the drawing, numeral 10 represents an arm adapted to support a calendar or the'like, 12. Arm 10 extends radially in an upright position from base 14 which is preferably cylindrical in shape, but which must essentially have a substantially rounded bottom to permit the necessary rocking motion. Within the lower portion of the cylindrical base 14 is disposed a weighting member 16, which may be of heavy metal, such as lead, and which may be I preformed and inserted into the hollow base 14,

or may be'molded therein. Caps 18 may fit over the open ends of base14 and enclose the ends thereof.-

The metal weight 16 is disposed-in the lower portion only of the cylindrical base 14 and should 63 not extend above a median line drawn through i the cylindrical base parallelto the support upon which it rests, as indicated by line cc in Fig.2. For best results, the weight member should be disposed slightly below such a line and I also prefer to dispose the vertical center of massof the weight slightly to one sideof the extending arm 10 and to the opposite side of the arm which carries the calandaror like matter, whereby the plane of the arm will be heldat an angle slightly (0: less than the perpendicular with respect to the plane of the surface upon which the device rests. This tilted position of the calendar or other matter which is supported by the arm facilitates its "legibility in that it thus isdisposed substanl5, tially perpendicular to the line of vision of a person using the device on his desk or table.

If desired,-the weight 16-may be shifted within the cylindrical housing and the angle of the arm may accordingly be predeterminately varied. so. In this event, care must be taken, however, to retain sufficient friction between the weight 16 and the inner wall of base 14 to prevent uncontrolled movement of the weight within its housing, otherwise the desiredrocking movement will not occur.

When the weight 16 is in place within its housing base 14, it is noted that a space of considerable size is provided in the upper portion of base 14. This space may be utilized as a storage compartment for paper clips,'pins ,and the ilke, and access 90, thereto can be readily had by removing either or both of the caps 18.

My preferred manner of making the device above described will be readily understood from reference toFig. 3, wherein a flat sheet of metal 95, having a substantial degree of rigidity and preferably rectangular, but which may be of any other desired shape, is provided at one end portion thereof, which portion eventuates into arm 10, with cut-out prongs 20 which are adapted to project through the calendar or the like and hold the same securely against the arm 10. Fingers 22 are also cut out from portion 10 and function to overlap the leaves of the calendar, or the like, and hold the same in place. Portion 14 of the m5 metal sheet is rolled in cylindrical form and serves as the base of the device. To facilitate its construction, slots 24 are provided at the longitudinal edges of the metal sheet and slots 26 are cut in the end thereof to provide tongues 28 which 11 0 are adapted to project through slots 24 when the portion 14 is cylindrically folded and overlap the outer surface of the cylinder in sufficient degree to prevent its unfolding. The overlapping tongues 28 may be welded or otherwise secured to the outer surface of the cylinder, but such adhering means are not essential, particularly when .the caps 18 are to be used. Flap 30, which extends atthe outer end of portion 14, is intended to be bent along the dotted line shown to lie within portion 14 when formed into a cylinder and may, or may not, be secured to the inner wall of the cylinder adjacent portion 10 which has been bent at substantially right angles with respect to the portion 14 and extends radially therefrom when cylindrical form has been imparted to the base portion 14. It is thus apparent that tongues 28 and flap 30, in addition to locking base 14 in substantially cylindrical shape, will also serve as reinforcing means for the device at the juncture of the arm and the base The weight'member 16 may be preformed in semi-cylindrical shape and inserted into' cylinder base 14, or it may be desired to pour, into the cylindrical base 14 sufficient molten metaliand mold the sametherein. 7

While my improved device is primarily intendied as a support fora calendar, it will be understood that other matter inaddition thereto, or in lieu thereof, may. as readily be supported.

A modified use of exceptional merit is to secure to the supporting arm a note pad, or the like, and'in. use the arm can be tilted to rest on the table surface while the user is writing on said pad and. when finished, the arm is released and will swing back into its normal upright. position where it will remain in the direct vision of the user. n l

The device as herein described is capable of considerable structural modification without departingfrornmy inventive concept thereof, the scopeof which is defined by the appended claims.

Iclaim: a 11. A device of the characterdescribed which being weighted whereby said arm is held in an upright position.

3. A device of the character described which comprises, an elongated rounded base portion, aprinted matter displaying arm extending upwardly therefrom, an adjustable weight member disposed in said base whereby. said arm is held in an upward extending position at a predetermined angle. H I

,4. 'A device of the character described which comprises a cylindrical base, a, rigid arm integral with and extending radially from said base said arm carrying printed matter on one face thereof said base and said arm being formed of a single pieceof material, a weight disposed in the bottom of said base, said arm being normally held by said weight at an angle less than the perpendicular with respect to the plane upon which the base rests with the printed matter carrying face uppermost 5. A device of the character described which comprises an elongated roundedbase portion, a printed matter displaying ;a r m extending upwardly therefrom, an adjustable weight member disposed in said base, friction faces provided on at least one of the adjacent surfaces of said base and said weight, said weight being adapted to lie in any predetermined position in the bottom portion of said base wherebysaid arm may be held at predetermined angles.

' JAMES T. LEWIS. 

